Elders experiencing abuse in small communities are in a SA国际影视传媒減andemicSA国际影视传媒� situation where they feel helpless and abandoned, said Dehcho MLA Ron Bonnetrouge on Tuesday.
Speaking in the legislative assembly, Bonnetrouge said the problem has been going on for years, with victims feeling neglected by other people, organizations and even social workers.
SA国际影视传媒淚 hear about neglect. When people go out of town they leave Elders at a friendSA国际影视传媒檚 home, and go away sometimes for several days with the Elder's bank card. This is probably as prevalent in many small communities as it is in (Fort Providence.)
SA国际影视传媒淧eople donSA国际影视传媒檛 know who to turn to for help, especially with finances.SA国际影视传媒�
He then said that social services personnel in Fort Providence were approached about the problem of Elder abuse and SA国际影视传媒渢hey refused to help in any regard because theySA国际影视传媒檙e dealing mostly with child and family services.SA国际影视传媒�
Julie Green, minister responsible for seniors, expressed her shock at hearing about the social workers and said she would follow up on it.
Need zero tolerance for neglect
Green acknowledged that the problem of Elder abuse is a real and frightening one in the NWT.
But finding solutions entails moving away from tolerance of Elder neglect and exploitation, she said.
SA国际影视传媒淲e need to value our Elders and we need to walk the talk and we wonSA国际影视传媒檛 put up with exploitation and neglect,SA国际影视传媒� said Green. SA国际影视传媒淩ight now weSA国际影视传媒檙e doing a jurisdictional scan. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e working with the NWT Seniors Society, who are the lead organization to prevent abuse of older adults. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e working with them on regulatory or legislative change that would provide real consequences for people involved in this abuse.SA国际影视传媒�
Plan underway for Fort Providence
Bonnetrouge responded that he rarely hears about the NWT Seniors Society in Fort Providence and is unsure how much involvement the organization has in small communities.
He and Green differed on the details of an Elder abuse awareness workshop held last September in Fort Providence.
Bonnetrouge said no Elders attended, "especially the ones being abused financially and mentally." While Green said five attended.
However, the minister said the organizers concluded the event intending to develop a plan to address Elder abuse in the Dehcho community.
SA国际影视传媒淚t will be taken back for Elders to review to ensure it meets their needs. That's the plan for Fort Providence,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
Direct help needed
Bonnetrouge asked Green if she could establish an official staff position dedicated to helping Elders and combating abuse.
The minister didnSA国际影视传媒檛 directly respond to BonnetrougeSA国际影视传媒檚 request, but said the GNWT provides funding to the Seniors Society to organize workshops.
She explained that health care staff are trained to recognize the signs of Elder abuse, which resembles intimate partner violence in that victims are often shamed into staying silent.
SA国际影视传媒淪eniors and Elders (can) access those same services we provide. That includes family violence shelters, court orders, emergency protection orders, restorative justice and counselling.SA国际影视传媒�
The Dehcho MLA, clearly seeking a more direct approach to the problem, said he wants resources allocated so that Elders can be interviewed with a translator present, allowing them to tell their stories.
Other resources
Green outlined other services available, such as the that helps family members or close friends become legal guardians of people who are unable to make decisions about personal or health-care issues.
SA国际影视传媒淭hat exists only in Yellowknife. But you can call that office and ask for help. We also have adult social workers in Yellowknife and ISA国际影视传媒檒l find out about the Dehcho. Social workers provide many functions and not just for children. ISA国际影视传媒檒l follow up on what other resources are available,SA国际影视传媒� Green said.
The exchange on Elder abuse comes almost three weeks after Great Slave MLA Katrina Nokleby pressed Green about mental health supports available for seniors during the pandemic.
Nokleby also described the SA国际影视传媒渟tress and anxietySA国际影视传媒� that many seniors experienced while trying to book Covid-19 vaccine appointments over the phone.
